I believe everyone’s life has a purpose. We are here to discover that purpose then use whatever gifts were bestowed upon us to make this world a better place. Some of us are fortunate as we know at an early age what that purpose is. Others, well, we go along, often digressing from the road that will take us there. This is me. Now on the other side of 50, I am finding my way back to that road that will lead to my life’s purpose. Welcome to my journey.

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Sunday, February 12, 2017

Mixed media Valentine and Giveaway winner.

Red is not one of my go-to colors. As a teacher I have avoid using red pens to correct papers simply because kids only see "bad, wrong, never getting anything right".

According to Color Psychology, there are positive traits for red such as, "action, energy and speed, attention-getting, assertive and confident, energizing, stimulating, exciting, powerful, passionate, stimulating and driven, courageous and strong, spontaneous and determined." I find I associate more with its negative traits, "aggressive and domineering, over-bearing, tiring, angry and quick-tempered, ruthless, fearful and intolerant, rebellious and obstinate, resentful, violent and brutal". Thus, I use it rather sparingly in my work.

I was invited by Susi at Frobestenchen to join Art Journal Journey's challenge, Fifty Shades of RED. Putting my dislike aside and using the opportunity to get into the mood for Valentines Day...

Mixed media piece on 9 x 12 watercolor paper

The heart was created on scrap corrugated cardboard using washi tape and ribbon.

This heart pin is my mother's. A wonderful way to remember her and her love of costume jewelry.

The background was created using various shades of red acrylic paint, embossing powder, sequins and glitter glue. To soften the rough edges of the heart I added a layer of cheese cloth which I sprayed with Dylusions Postbox Red spray ink.

8 comments:

this is such a gorgeous page!!! The layers are delicious as is that heart of many stripes of patterns. I would NEVER have guessed red wasn't a fave color of yours. Thanks for stepping out of the box and joining in at AJJ!

Oh my gosh! This is just fantastic! I love this amazing Mixed Media Page!Thank you very much for joining us at Art Journal Journey with such a beautiful piece! An amazing project !!!Happy new week to you!hugsSusi

Wow, your use of washi tape, lace and fabric to create the heart is amazing! I love your sparkly, wooden and metal heart embelishments and stamp embossing is stunning :-). So glad Susi asked you to join us and that you created this beautiful page! J :-)

I am in love - your heart is out of this world. Interesting about Kids and the color red. For me, love is energy and passion. Kids don't need anymore energy that's for sure!!!Your mixed media page is quite unique and wonderful. Of course you get a big WOW from me over you heart!!Sandy xx

THE JOURNEY

One day you finally knewwhat you had to do, and began,though the voices around youkept shoutingtheir bad advice--though the whole housebegan to trembleand you felt the old tugat your ankles."Mend my life!"each voice cried.But you didn't stop.You knew what you had to do,though the wind priedwith its stiff fingersat the very foundations,though their melancholywas terrible.It was already lateenough, and a wild night,and the road full of fallenbranches and stones.But little by little,as you left their voices behind,the stars began to burnthrough the sheets of clouds,and there was a new voicewhich you slowlyrecognized as your own,that kept you companyas you strode deeper and deeperinto the world,determined to dothe only thing you could do--determined to savethe only life you could

The Dark Night Of The SoulBy Saint John of the CrossTranslated by A.Z. Foreman

Songs of the soul rejoicing at having achieved the high state of perfection, the Union with God, by way of spiritual negation.

Once in the dark of night,Inflamed with love and wanting, I arose(O coming of delight!)And went, as no one knows,When all my house lay long in deep repose

All in the dark went right,Down secret steps, disguised in other clothes, (O coming of delight!)In dark when no one knows, When all my house lay long in deep repose.

And in the luck of nightIn secret places where no other spied I went without my sightWithout a light to guideExcept the heart that lit me from inside.

It guided me and shoneSurer than noonday sunlight over me,And lead me to the oneWhom only I could seeDeep in a place where only we could be.

O guiding dark of night!O dark of night more darling than the dawn!O night that can uniteA lover and loved one,Lover and loved one moved in unison.

And on my flowering breastWhich I had kept for him and him alone He slept as I caressedAnd loved him for my own,Breathing an air from redolent cedars blown.And from the castle wall The wind came down to winnow through his hairBidding his fingers fall,Searing my throat with airAnd all my senses were suspended there. I stayed there to forget.There on my lover, face to face, I lay.All ended, and I letMy cares all fall awayForgotten in the lilies on that day.

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Welcome to my blog! I am married, a high school science teacher, a marine mom, and former army drill Sargent. I find myself at a point in my life where I am experiencing new adventures and a sudden surge in creativity. My brain decided "enough with all that left brained stuff, let's play with your right brain for a while". I now enjoy art journaling, mixed media art, photography, and I recently started swapping my art on Swap-Bot. Who knew one's life could change so drastically! I'm lovin' it!